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Lanett 

Arguably a second game of the week, Lanett faces off against Horseshoe Bend this Friday. The Panthers took a tough loss to low-ranked Central of Coosa County. This was Central Coosa’s first win of the season, at a bad time for Lanett. Lanett has dropped to No. 4 in the standings, with Horseshoe Bend sitting right behind them at No. 5. 

In AHSAA the top four teams at the end of the regular season get a playoff bid. Should Lanett lose to Horseshoe Bend they would move out of the top four, as both teams are 2-2 in the region. There is still a way for Lanett to make the playoffs if this happens, but it requires a domino effect of other teams losing in order for it to happen. 

If Lanett wins on Friday, they still have to beat Ranburne next week to make absolutely sure of a spot. However, their chances are better if they can get past Horseshoe Bend. 

Focusing on the game at hand, Horseshoe Bend should be a good competition for the Panthers. Where the Generals lost to Loachapoka, Lanett won. Where Lanett lost to Central Coosa, Horseshoe Bend won. It should be a fun and impactful game. 

Springwood

Springwood will play for a playoff bye this Friday. The Wildcats are currently No. 3 in the standings. They face No. 2 Macon-East Academy this week at home. With a win, Springwood moves up to no. 2 and would secure a bye in the first round of the AISA 8-man playoffs.  

This will be no easy task as Macon-East is undefeated this season. However, the Knights have yet to face Cornerstone Christian, the only region team to beat Springwood this season. 

The Cecil-based team is strong defensively, serving three shutouts this season. This should be an interesting match-up as Springwood’s offense has exploded this season, averaging 414.3 yards per game. The Wildcats have bumped their average number of points per game up to 51.5. In contrast, the Knights have only allowed a total of 56 points against them this season.

While Macon-East doesn’t put up the same numbers offensively, they are more balanced. They have the ability to run or pass the ball, as do the Wildcats, however they often rely on the run.

Valley

The Rams are in an equally precarious position to Lanett, sitting at No. 4 in 5A region 4. Last week, they lost a heartbreaker in overtime to Elmore County. This week, Valley is on the road to play No. 5 Holtville this week. 

While a loss to Holtville will not necessarily mean Valley drops down, it is still a must-win. Next week the Rams are tasked with Beauregard who will be a much tougher opponent. Should they lose both games it could make a Ram’s playoff spot out of reach. 

Despite losing to Elmore County, Valley had a productive outing last week, showing the ability to make big plays when necessary. The season has been dominated by the name Galvin Goss, who leads the region in multiple categories including in rushing yards, 787 yards. Tilyn Carrell who had a superb game last week, sits behind his quarterback with 676 yards. 

LaFayette 

It’s homecoming week for the Bulldogs! While LaFayette has a lot to celebrate, come game time it is all business. 

The Bulldogs dropped to the bottom of the region table when Central Coosa beat Lanett last week. Now the Panthers are coming off an energizing win ahead of the match against the Bulldogs. While it was their first win of the season, momentum can not be underestimated this late in the season. This is especially true when their win came off of a team that beat LaFayette 52-12. 

That being said, LaFayette’s season has not been unsuccessful. While they have been shut out in region play, they have won every non-region game played so far this year. The Bulldogs have the ability to put high scores on the board. 

Neither team will be getting a playoff bid this late in the season with a packed middle of the standings, but a win regardless could set a tone for the rest of LaFayette’s season to end strong.